Royalist is our post-Brexit religion

When I saw who wrote the article I wasn’t surprised at her views. She’s a very biased person in my opinion.

We're not the US.

I repeat. The knowledge of constitutional matters displayed on here is woeful.

Anniebach

She can recover from the death of a loved one in 40 days, good for her.

A child walking behind his mothers coffin is one of the saddest
things she has seen ,lucky her, the saddest thing I have seen is
mothers clawing through pit sludge to find the bodies of their
children.

Absolutely Annie. I’m not Welsh but I saw these scenes on television as a child. That memory has stayed with me to this day.

What exactly is a President for? It’s a serious question. Grany?

Callistemon

I do enjoy her articles mostly.

But this one is a load of piffle or perhaps it's just that no-one I know relates to these views.

.....a load of piffle......

This made me laugh Callistemon.

maddyone

Anniebach

She can recover from the death of a loved one in 40 days, good for her.

A child walking behind his mothers coffin is one of the saddest
things she has seen ,lucky her, the saddest thing I have seen is
mothers clawing through pit sludge to find the bodies of their
children.

Absolutely Annie. I’m not Welsh but I saw these scenes on television as a child. That memory has stayed with me to this day.

FGS! She only said that it was ONE of the saddest things she had seen.

I'm deeply conscious that living through the Aberfan tragedy must have been indescribably traumatic. But belittling other's experiences by holding them up against that event and judging them to be wanting is really unfair.

"perhaps it's just that no-one I know relates to these views."

Well nobody I know voted for Brexit, yet here we are.

MayBee70

If we had an elected head of state might we not (heaven forbid) end up with someone like Farage?

Indeed we might Maybee, just think, Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, Nigel Farage, Theresa May, Margaret Thatcher, the odious (to me anyway) Emmanuel Macron, or any one of a host of people who we may or may not like, or who may be useless at the job, or war mongers, or underhand/ dishonest, or many other reasons why they would be unsuitable. Thank heavens we don’t need to elect a President and that our Head of State has little power and is simply a figurehead.

I am not allowed to be sad because someone else is living in a situation much worse than mine, its nonsense.

Oh, thank goodness we're not allowed to choose who we want to be head of state. Oh, the responsibility. We might elect someone just like the people we've got now!

Best to let our betters keep on with the job. ( doffs cap )

Alegrias1

We're not the US.

I repeat. The knowledge of constitutional matters displayed on here is woeful.

Don’t worry, there will be a Forum Member along soon to enlighten all...

Well somebody needs to.

Peasblossom

What exactly is a President for? It’s a serious question. Grany?

When Britain becomes a republic we will at last make sure that our nation's democratic values go right to the top. We will have a written constitution.

We will change the political culture and our relationship with those in power.

Ordinary citizens will be able to take part in the process of choosing our head of state and even put themselves forward for the job.

A non-partisan head of state who is not involved in making political decisions or running the government. So we don't support a system like they have in France or the United States. We believe the best alternative to the monarchy is a head of state who is able to do the job that the Queen cannot do. It is a serious job of representing the nation, acting as referee in the political process, championing the interests of the people and defending our democratic traditions.

Becoming a republic will put a stop to the royals' routine abuses of public money and their daily interference in our country's politics. In a republic the Windsor family will be equal citizens too, with the same rights to take part in the political process as the rest of us, but no special access or privileged status.

A move to a republic will give us the chance to re-balance power between government, parliament and the people.

By getting rid of the Crown we can put limits on what our government can do without the support of parliament - and put limits on what parliament can do without the clear support of the people.

A republic will give us an effective head of state, someone chosen by us to referee the political process and champion the interests of the British people.

A democratic Britain will also give a huge boost to 'brand Britain'. Our nation's image abroad will be of the modern, confident and forward looking country we really are.

Of course, this is a very British republic. Our heritage and history will remain with royal palaces (that are already owned and paid for by the taxpayer) open all year for tourists. This is about building on the best of what we already have, taking our political institutions and making them genuinely democratic and there for the people, not the few.

Do you think it’s possible to get a non-partisan Head of State? I mean everyone has a viewpoint. I can’t actually think of anyone in the public arena that I’d want at present.

How about countries like the USA where the Head of State and President are one? Does that work do you think. I admit I get confused between the President and the Prime Minister in countries like France. It would save even more money than two Offices.

I’m also greatly put off by obscene amounts of money being spent on Presidential elections and all the razzmatazz that turns it into a show biz event or the ‘influencing’ that goes on in some elections - monetary and violence.

Where does it work well, do you think?

Im ambivalent about the current role of the Monarchy and certainly about the “Family” aspect of it and the way it’s become a media /celebrity thing.

On the other hand, if it was mostly a ceremonial role, the Palace is very good at that. I wouldn’t like someone as rude and dismissive as Trump to represent me.

A Donald Trump? A Nigel Farage? Tony Bliar? I’d rather stick with the present system. I mean look what happened when the great unwashed were allowed to vote on our membership of the EU?

It’s enough to bring on an attack of the vapours. Quick fetch the smelling salts!

Anniebach

She can recover from the death of a loved one in 40 days, good for her.

A child walking behind his mothers coffin is one of the saddest
things she has seen ,lucky her, the saddest thing I have seen is
mothers clawing through pit sludge to find the bodies of their
children.

She is not saying that one can recover from the death of a loved one in 40 days. She is talking about a period of mourning. You know, just like when people wore black for a specified period and then switched to grey or mauve.

Most of us didn't see mothers at Aberfan trying to dig their children out. For most of us, seeing the two boys walking behind the coffin was one (not the only) saddest things we'd seen.

MayBee70

I just think that if we hadn’t had royal families we wouldn’t have castles and stately homes and lovely National trust properties to visit.

That is no reason to keep the monarchy. France no longer has a monarchy but there are several chateaux, including over 1000 in the department in which I live. France isn't the only country - look at America. Mount Vernon built before independence and Monticello (Jefferson's home) built afterwards. Many, many more built towards the end of the 19th C and the beginning of the 20th C.

I have always been a monarchist but I am beginning to change my mind. It seems to me that they are a more disfunctional family than most.

But, in a world of reality tv etc they’re quite good value. Better than the Kardashians anyway.

Setting the bar really low there MawBee but I get your point!

Nothing will happen for a good few years yet. With Covid and Brexit we just need some boring stability for a while, not more rollercoaster upheavals please!

GrannyRose15

Alegrias1

Hope springs eternal Grany. One day!

Well you won't need to worry will you, or is an independent Scotland going to adopt a monarch?

Apparently, so I learnt on here, yes, HM would still be Head of State of an independent Scotland.
But why?

Curiouser and curiouser said Alice.

Ordinary citizens will be able to take part in the process of choosing our head of state and even put themselves forward for the job.

Seriously? You really think Jenny from number 61 has a chance of being elected when over 99% of the voters have no idea who Jenny is? In order to be "known" enough to get elected you'd need to be either very rich (to fund the necessary advertising), or already famous. Rules out most of us I'd say. We don't even elect unknown independents to be our MPs, and rarely even to be local councillors. That will largely result in most of the candidates being ex MPs, actors, sportspeople or well-known heads of companies.

Rosie51 I said similar upthread, it will be the rich, famous (infamous) or ex MPs.

It’s a big NO from me.

Setting the bar really low there MawBee but I get your point!

Not guilty m’Lud!
Maybe MayBee ?

Rosie51

^Ordinary citizens will be able to take part in the process of choosing our head of state and even put themselves forward for the job.^

Seriously? You really think Jenny from number 61 has a chance of being elected when over 99% of the voters have no idea who Jenny is? In order to be "known" enough to get elected you'd need to be either very rich (to fund the necessary advertising), or already famous. Rules out most of us I'd say. We don't even elect unknown independents to be our MPs, and rarely even to be local councillors. That will largely result in most of the candidates being ex MPs, actors, sportspeople or well-known heads of companies.

I have a list.

Apologies to those who have seen it before.

David Attenborough (Probably too old to be interested now)
Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Tim Berners Lee
Prof Sarah Gilbert
Prof Dame Anne Glover
William Windsor (open to all, see)

No ex MPS, actors, sportspeople or heads of companies.

Now, just to decide how to persuade them to stand...

GrannyGravy13

^Plus there are lots of talented intelligent honest people to choose from who could become our President^

Really Grany ?

The applicants would have to be financially comfortable to run a Presidential campaign, and be in a profession / job which would enable them to have 4/5 year garden leave. Which probably rules out a high proportion of the general public leaving only the wealthy and privileged to apply.

Might as well stick with the wealthy and privileged family we have.

My thoughts exactly. Having seen how much damage a president can do to a country (USA) better the devil you know. At least they bring in money from tourism and little power.

I would like to see Parliament reformed. A second house that is elected, not appointed would be a good start. Preferably by PR and with more power to revise legislation.